Ecuador has a lot to discover

Quito's festival of fun and the home of the Panama hats

With a three-week hiatus in December, lots of Internet searches and Lonely Planet in hand, we hopped on a Continental Airlines flight via Houston to Quito, Ecuador.

Arriving on Dec. 4, we got to experience the Festival of Quito week --colourful cultural events and village "Chivitas" (buses) noisily parading the narrow streets.

After adjusting to the altitude of 2,800 metres, we ventured down the Andes by bus to Riobamba, a five-hour trip. Buses are plentiful, so if you wish to stop off, another will be by shortly. Costs are the equivalent of $1 per hour of travel.

We arrived in Riobamba on Friday in time for the Saturday market. On Sunday, we boarded the twice-weekly train taking us on an interesting ride to Nariz de Diablo (Nose of the Devil).

The 12-hour return trip offered stunning vistas and an insight into the agricultural prowess of the indigenous people.

Then it was on to the Pacific coast, with Puerto Lopez our destination, dropping from 2,800 metres to sea level.

After manoeuvring through the bus terminal in Guayaquil -- as big as many large international airports -- we were on our way to Hosteria Mandala, a relaxing spot right on the beach. Even though it's on the equator, the Humboldt current from Antarctica keeps the temperature pleasant.

After a few days exploring the coastal areas, we went to Manta via Montecristi, the home of Panama hats. Faced with a 12-hour bus trip, we opted for a quick plane trip back to Quito ($62), then back on a bus north to Otavalo in time for the Saturday market.